Life-saving suit.



No. 659,682. Patented Oct. l6, I900. F. M. LEPORE. LIF E SAYING SUIT. (Lpplicatipn fll ed Apr. 26, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED ATENT OFFI E.

FELIX MARIAN LEPORE, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DOMINIO PANTANELLA, TRUSTEE, OF SAME PLACE.

Ll FE-SAVI NG S U IT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,682, dated October 16, 1960.

Application filed April 26, 1900. Serial No. 14,460. KNo model.)

To aZZ 1071/0722, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FELIX MARIAN LEPORE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Saving Suits; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in life-saving devices; and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide a life-saving suit to save persons from drowning, and, second, to provide a life-saving suit having a helmet 2o portion and a vizor portion on the helmet that can be opened or closed by a person in the water and the cloak portion that can be folded back to give a persons arms freedom of movement when desired or that may be closed entirely over the head and chest of a person.

ings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of my im- 0 proved life-saving suit for preventing persons from drowning. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of Fig. 1 on line A. Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the helmet and side cloaks closed. 5 Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspectiveview showing an enlarged construction of the helmet opening and closing mechanism.- Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side view of the helmet and the side cloaks. Fig. 7 is an enlarged 4o fragment showing the attachment of the vizor to the helmet-eyehinge. Fig. 8 is an enlarged front view of the helmets folding vizor-frame and covering pulled down. Fig. 9 is a sectional fragment of the helmet vizorframes pivotal connection with the hinge of the helmet. Fig. 10 is a general plan view of the suit. Fig. 11 is a cross-section of the buoy-ring on line C of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a cross-section of the buoy-ring on line D of Fig. 10.

I attain these objects by the mech anism illustrated in the accompanying draw- Similar figures of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals 1 and 2 designate the leg portions, and 3 the body portion, of a suit of clothes adapted to save a person from drowning. The body and legs are made of any suitable waterproof material, and the whole is preferably made of a floating material that is light of weight. The leg portions are preferably made to fit 6o loosely around a persons legs. Down the outside of each leg and up the inside a short distance air-channels 4: and 5 are formed by projecting tubular strips of any suitable airtight cloth or fabric. An air-channel 5 eX- tends across the waist portion of the suit and connects with the air-channels on the legs. An air-tube 6 is connected to the channel inside the suit at the waist and extends upand through the armholes 7 of the suit, and at its end there is an air-ball 8, containing an airhole 8. The air-ball is intended to be held in one hand and air pumped by it through the tube into the air-channels of the legs by alternately squeezing and releasing it. In the foot portion of each leg a sinking-weight 9, which may be of any suitable material, is confined, which is so proportioned to the buoyancy of the suit as to act to keep the leg portions down when immersed in water, but by a slight tendency to sink when there is no air in their air-channels.

Around the breast portion of the suit there is a projecting ring 10, which is composed of a covering of waterproof material. This ring contains a plurality of round cork rings 11, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. The space between these rings is filled, preferably, with hair 12. (See section in Fig. 11.)

The breast and back portions 13 and 14, respectively, of the suit project above the ring to the neck and are divided at the front, and each edge 15. and 16 is perforated with holes 17 and 18, in which a strong cord or strap 12 of any suitable material is laced. Armholes 7 are formed in the breast and back portion, through which the arms of the occupant 20 extend. The back portion, which is preferably made quite thick by a covering .filled with cork 20 or other suitable floating mate- IOO etaes rial is extended up over the back and sides of the head and forms a helmet 22. The'helmet is so constructed that it will be in a measure elastic and pliable, but at the same time strong and stiff. At the top a folding extension 21, which I term the vizorf consistsrof a series of light rods of steel or whalebone 19 or other suitable elastic material arranged to form ribs. These ribs are pivotally connected to an eye 23 at equal distances apartby pins. The eye is pivotally connected to the hingeeye 24, that is secured to the helmet by the flat bar extension 25.. The ribs-are covered with a pliable waterproof cloth 24 of any suitable material. In one of the folds of the covering a window 25 of isinglass or other suitable material is secured'in any suitable manner to enable the occupant to see outside of the helmet. To the hinge-eye 24.-at each side of the helmet I secure the upper endsof two cloaks 26 and27, and also secure oneof their edges to the edges ofthe opposite sides of the helmet, and the free ends of the cloaks are adaptedto be folded over the breast of the occupant when he desires to cover his arms with the cloak. The front edges are provided with loops 28and several rowsof buttons 29 or with some othersuitable means of fastening them together easily from the inside of the suit.

30 designatesa pocketon the inside of each of the cloaks. A similar pocket 31 isal'so placed on the inside of the chest portion on each side of the opening. These pockets should be made of elastic material, so that they will be capable of extension, so thatmumerous articles may be insertedin them. The pockets on the inside ofthe chest are adapted to carry matches and a small lamp 32, capable of givinga light that will attract attention for quite a distance and capable of burning for a few nights, also a little suitable food and drinking-water can be placed in them;

The pockets 30 in the cloak are mad'elarger' than those in the chest portion of. the. suit. andshould be also made of elastic material. These pockets can be madelarge enough to place a small baby in, while'the cloaks themselveswould shelter a small child standing on the ring. Thelamp' 32 maybe'secured at. night to any suitable part ofthe suit and may be attached in any convenient manner, and. forms a light signal'for the occu pant at night.

The cloaks are preferably constructed of slightly-elastic material, so they can be drawn tight and the loops buttoned on any row of buttons desired.

The vizor of the helmet closes down over: the side cloaks and the breastplate portion: of the suit and protects the oceupantsface and arms, which are fully covered by tliem,. from the spray or splashing of the water as well as protecting him from the cold; The: helmet and side cloaks are not intended to: fit absolutely water-tight around' the breastplate,.but they will nevertheless prevent all! but a very little water from entering to the neck and face; and if the. breastplate and back portions of the suit are securely tied about the neck and chest no water can enter the suit, as the lowest edge of the openingin the breast is several inches above the Waterline-,andrit is impossible. for a person-to sink in water below the top of the ring.

The helmet-vizor is intended to be closed only when the Water is cold and rough or choppy. When the water is reasonably calm, the vizor can be kept open and the side cloaks pushed back of the shoulderand tucked inside the edgesof theback portion of. the suit at will. The arms are then perfectly free and an occupant can swim if he desires, as the legs of the suit are not heavy and may be buoyed up, and they will not drag very heavy on thelegs and the occupant can always/rest whenyhe' is tired.

The-air-channelsin the legs'are intended tobefilled! with air byan oecupant when he desiresto float on his back afterhe has been in the water some time and thelwateriscalm.

By grasping the air ball he canpu mp air into the air-channels of the-legsof'the suit, which will cause thelegs'tofloat easily, enabling an occupant to lieflat on the water. with comfort.

Mylife-saving"suitis practically adapted for: ocean. traveling; can be very quickly and easily placed over a moderate amount of clothing in anemergency, and if the weather is not intenselyccolda. person couldex-istseveralfdaysin one, thus-greatlyincreasingthe chances of rescue; while sinking in the-waten and"! drowning wouldbe impossible.

\ Having described my invention, what I claim as new; and? desire tosecure by. Letters Patent, is+- 1. In a devicefor saving a person i from drowning thecombination of a waterproof suit of clothesorgarment havin g leg portions closed at? theirfoot ends, a waist, and chest,

. and back, and neck portion toisaid': suit and having said neck and chest portion divided and arranged. to be secured closely to the 01188131306 neck of an occupant, armholes lin Saidsuit aifloating buoysecured to saidisuit 'abovethe 'waist portion of said suit, an air- .chan'nel. along the leg and across the waist portion ofi said suit, aitubeon the inside of said suit connectedati one end withsaidairchannel and extending through one of said iarmh'oles,-uand an air-ball on theotherencl of said tube, substantially asdescribed.

i 2.. In. aidev ice for savinga person from :drowning the' combination of a non-sinkable Waterproof suitof clothescomprising'a pair of =legs-closed at=the foot ends; a waist, chestand back portion: integral with: said. legs and adapted to beclosely. secured tolthe neck or chestof a. person, armholesin= said. suit, a floating buoy securely connected.- with said waist and chestportion ofisaidsuitiand adapted to' buoy up an occupant of the suit; against sinkingin water; a helmet.portioniextending upward from said back portion and arranged to partially inclose the head of an occupant,

and a vizor secured to said helmet and arranged to keep the opening into said helmet open, or to close it at the will of an occupant, transparent eyeholes or windows of any suitable material in said helmet, a tube on the inside of said suit connected at one end with the air-channel and extending through one of said armholes, and an air-ball on the other end of said tube, substantially as described.

3. In a device for preventing a person from drowning the combination of a waterproof suit of clothes or garment having leg portions closed at their foot ends, a waist, chest, back and neck portion to said suit and having said neck and chest portion divided and arranged to be secured closely to the chest and neck of an occupant, armholes in said suit, a floating buoy secured to said suit above the waist portion of said suit, an air-channel along the leg and across the waist portion of said suit, a tube on the inside of said suit connected at one end with said air-channel and extending through one of said armholes, and an air-ball on the other end of said tube, a helmet extending from said back portion and comprising a floating-buoy portion adapted to buoy up the head and shoulders of an occupant floating on his back in the water and arranged to inclose a portion of the sides of the head, an open space in the front of said helmet, a pivotal joint at the central portion of said helmet, and a folding vizor pivotally attached to said joint and arranged to stand normally folded at the top of said opening and adapted to be unfolded to close the opening in said helmet, substantially as described.

4. In a device for preventing a person from drowning the combination of a waterproof suit of clothes or garment having leg portions closed at their foot ends, a waist, chest, back and neck portion to said suit and having said neck and chest portion divided and arranged to be secured closely to the chest and neck of an occupant, armholes in said suit, a floating buoy secured to said suit above the Waist portion of said suit, an air-channel along the leg and across the waist portion of said suit,a tube on the inside of said suit connected at one end With said air-channel and extending through one of said armholes, and an air-ball on the other end of said tube,a helmet extending from said back portion and comprising a floatingbuoy portion adapted to buoy up the head and shoulders of an occupant floating on his back in the water and arranged to inclose a portion of the sides of the head, an open space in front of said helmet, a pivotal hinge-eye at the central portion of said helmet, and a foldin g vizor pivotally attached to said hinge-eye and arranged to stand normally folded at the top of said opening and adapted to be unfolded to close the opening in said helmet, cloak members secured to the said hinge-eye on the opposite sides of said helmet and adapted to fold over the chest portion of said suit and means for securing said cloaks together over said chest portion by an occupant, substantially as described.

5. In a device for saving a person from drowning comprising a suit of waterproof floating clothes, consisting of a leg portion fitting loosely over the legs and feet of an occupant, a suitable weight in the foot portion of said leg portion of said suit, an air-holding channel extending along each leg and continuing across the waist portion of said suit from one leg to the other, means including a tube whereby an occupant of the suit may fill said air-channel with air, with an integral waist and shoulder, chest, back and neck portion formed integrally with said leg portion and adapted to fit an occupant loosely to the chest and neck, means including any suitable fastenings for clothes for securing said chest, neck and back portions securely and tightly to an occu pant,a floating buoy adapted to keep a person from drowning integrally connected to said suit between said neck and waist portions, armholes in said chest and back portions of said suit, a helmet on said suit integrally connected to said back portion to partially cover the head of an occupant, a folding vizor pivotally connected to said helmet adapted to be folded or unfolded at the will of an occupant to open or to close said helmet, cloak portions of said suit secured to opposite sides of said helmet and arranged to fold over one another over the chest portion of said suit and means for fastening said cloaks together, a lamp-signal attached to said suit, and elastic pockets in said chest portion and in the cloaks of said suit, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

FELIX MARIAN LEPORE.

Witnesses:

CLAUDE A. DUNN, BESSIE THOMPSON. 

